Crucified Santa

I turned on the television this morning only to see Santa nailed to a cross! Talk about tacky Holiday decorations. Art Conrad of Bremerton, Washington nailed an inflatable Santa Claus to a 15 foot cross in his yard as a statement over the commercialism of Christmas. This statement on display may offend many and others may applaud his boldness. Though this statement of display may not be politically correct to many I have to admire then man's tenacity.

When you go to the store in late September or early October the holiday decorations begin to be seen adorning the walls and aisles. There are even some stores that start to let Christmas decorations peek out among the Halloween ones. As soon as Halloween is over Christmas decorations leap out in droves. Retailers trying to spur the motions of spending consumers so they can make their profit line by the end of the year in sales results.

There is also the religious aspect of Conrad's statement. Christmas is a religious holiday that has been made to be a consumer nightmare with gifts bought and given. What has happened to thinking of what Christmas means religiously? Have we turned our backs on the true meaning of Christmas?

With pot shots being taken at so many aspects of religion is this just another pot shot? If you look in your pocket or wallet right at this very moment and find coins, there are 4 words on them, In God We Trust. Our country was created by men and women that came here to be able to practice their religious beliefs without persecution. Without having the King tell them who, what, where and when their religious beliefs would be. Now we have people here in America doing the very same.

I like being able to wish someone Merry Christmas, as this is the holiday my family and I celebrate. I would not get offended should someone wish me a Happy Hanukah or Kwanza if that is the holiday that they celebrate. I appreciate the fact that we all have our own individual religions and traditions. This is America a melting pot of individuals where all have been welcomed but our country should not have to change what it was originally built on to makes others happy. Our country has deep ties in religion and was built by those that wanted the freedom of religion and to make their own choices on religion.

Americans should get back to the basics and not be so willing to make changes of our root ties here in America. Celebrate what our Country was founded on and why. Though I do not completely agree with Conrad's display of Santa being crucified, I do agree with the depth of his convictions. It surely makes a better statement than putting a huge credit card up on that cross. However I would not want my children or any one else's seeing Santa on a cross.